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Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996 as a manager, Ned Hanlon also enjoyed a 13-year big league playing career. A National League outfielder in the game’s infancy, Hanlon was captain of the 1887 Detroit Wolverines.

The squad featured Hall of Famers Dan Brouthers, Sam Thompson, and Deacon White. In 1887, they captured the Detroit’s first baseball championship. The Motor City had to wait nearly a half-century for their next triumph.

In the last three seasons of his playing career, Hanlon also managed. He started his quest for Cooperstown in earnest as skipper of the NL’s Baltimore Orioles.

In his seven seasons with the O’s, Hanlon guided Baltimore to .601 winning percentage. His teams won three consecutive National League pennants starting in 1894.

Hanlon left Baltimore for Brooklyn after the 1898 season and immediately guided his new club to two straight NL flags.

By the time his 19-year managerial career was over, Hanlon tallied 1,313 wins and a .530 winning percentage.

For his efforts, Hanlon was recognized in the Hall of Fame’s Honor Rolls of Baseball in 1946. Eventually he gained a plaque in Cooperstown in 1996.

In the collection is this telegram to Hanlon’s 1895 Orioles team captain Wilbert Robinson. For the four years before the formation of the American League, baseball’s championship was determined by a seven game series called the Temple Cup.

The telegram reads, “Let the good word continue until the Temple Cup is won!” With Hanlon at the helm the Orioles played in all four Temple Cups, claiming victory in 1896 and 1897.

With a debut year of 1889 and having died in 1937, Ned Hanlon remains elusive for even the most advanced autograph collectors. Ned Hanlon’s autograph is not in the collection at this time.